CHICAGO — The Chicago Yacht Club is proud to announce that Wintrust has signed on as the Presenting Sponsor of the 2015 Blind World International Championship being held September 10-13, for the first time in Chicago. Fifteen blind and visually impaired teams from around the world will be competing in this event.

“Wintrust is thrilled to sponsor the Blind World & International Championship being hosted at the Chicago Yacht Club,” said Matthew Doubleday, Senior Vice President, Marketing at Wintrust Financial Corporation. “As Chicago’s Bank, we are honored to be a part of this great international event taking place, for the first time, in our great city.”

Wintrust also serves as Presenting Sponsor of the Chicago Yacht Club’s Race to Mackinac, and has also co-sponsored two of the Club’s annual philanthropic activities; the Power Fleet Special Needs Cruise and Cruise for the Visually Impaired. Those events benefit nearly 200 Chicagoland residents.

“We are delighted to have Wintrust as Presenting Sponsor of this important international event,” said Greg Miarecki, Commodore of the Chicago Yacht Club. “Wintrust is a key member of the Chicagoland community, and we look forward to another strong partnership and memorable event for the participants and community.”

Each team participating in the 2015 Blind World & International Championship has four crew members, two of whom are visually impaired. Racing will begin each day at 10:55 A.M. approximately 1.5 miles off of Belmont Harbor. Results and releases will be posted daily at www.chicagoyachtclub.org/blindworlds2015.